Fastener attaching machine



I May 1.2, 1970 A. CILIONE FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi led Nov. 15, 19s? mvz TOR 6226mm BY v A RNEY/ I May 12, 1970 A. CILIONE 3,511,427

FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Nov. .15, 196'? 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR AzgusZz/ze @Zwzze May 12, 1970 CILIONE FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 15, 1967 INVENTOR A'TT NEY Fig Agfzgsjzke Caleb/w United States Patent 3,511,427 FASTENER A'I'IACHING MACHINE Augusfine Cilione, North Providence, R.I., asslgnor to U.S. Industries, Inc., doing business as Rau Fastener, Providence, R.I., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,275 Int. Cl. B211 15/28 U.S. Cl. 227-1 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A snap fastener component attaching machine having dual fastener attaching heads and vacuum plate assemblies for positioning and holding a sheet of material in place to receive fastener components and including an associated safety bar controlling operation of the attaching heads.

and during the component attaching operation. The plate assembly is constructed in a novel manner and is suitably connected with a source of negative air pressure so as to effectively hold a support sheet in position thereon.

Further, the safety bar is disposed to be brought down automatically into a predetermined position over a support sheet lying on the plate assembly, only after the operators hands have been removed from thereover, to actuate a pair of limit switches for imparting actuation of the plungers or rams.

It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide a fastener component attaching machine of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide novel means to hold a support sheet in position while attaching one or more fastener components thereto.

Another object is to provide a novel operator safety device on a machine of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide a safety device which, when carried into a predetermined position, functions automatically to initiate machine operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character referred to with novel sheet support means and with a novel safety control which is not difficult or expensive to manufacture, which is simple in operation and easy to use, and which is highly efficient for the uses intended.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other objects and advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the fastener attaching machine.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the safety control mechanism, as viewed along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the safety control mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one of the two like sheet holding means.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the top plate removed.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the sheet holding means.

FIG. 7 is a schematic of the control circuit.

3,511,427 Patented May 12, 1970 FIG. 8 is a segment of a support sheet having fasteners v attached thereto.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of the fastener attaching machine embodying the features of this invention as best shown in FIG. 1, of the accompanying drawings, the machine includes a base frame 10 upon the top surface of which is mounted a pair of substantially identical fastener component attaching heads 11. These heads are arranged side by side and are mounted for movement toward and away from each other so as to vary the spacing between fastener components 1 (FIG. 8) attached thereby to a support sheet 12 or garment or the like. Head adjustment may be accomplished by manual manipulation of a common screw 13.

Insofar as the present invention is concerned, the machine can be fitted with but a single head but preferably two heads are employed.

As best shown in FIG. 1, each attaching head includes a plunger or ram assembly 14 carrying an attaching tool 15 and a novel guage surface plate assembly 16. The latter mounts a companion clinching anvil 17 (FIG. 5). As is well understood in this art, the fastener components are fed to the tools automatically as by means of tracks 18 leading from suitable supply hoppers (not shown). When a support sheet 12 is placed over the plate assembly 16, with fastener components located at each tool position, the machine is operated to carry the ram downwardly and to secure the fastener components to the sheet.

Power for operating the rams in each head, in unison, is obtained from an electric motor 19 carried within the 'base frame 10. The motor has a chain drive connection 21 with a shaft 22 mounting a solenoid actuated trip clutch 23 that is operably connected with a vertically extending connecting rod 24. The rod is operably connected to the ram tripping mechanism in such manner that each time the trip clutch is actuated the ram tripping mechanism is actuated to carry the rams down to perform a fastener attaching operation. This drive connection is more fully disclosed in a copending application Ser. No. 682,869, filed Nov. 14, 1967.

As noted, the machine is electrically operated and electric power is supplied thereto through a master switch 25 located on the front side of the machine base frame.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4 through 6, which depict a preferred construction of the .guage surface plate assemblies 16, each assembly includes a cup-shaped element 26 having a cavity 27 therein and a lateral opening inthe form of a recess 28 in one of its walls. A tubular conduit nipple 29 depends from said cup-shaped element to receive in flow communication therewith a conduit 31 (FIG. 1) connected with a vacuum pump 32 including an electric motor 33. When master switch 25 is closed this motor operates. Joined to said cup-shaped element 26 is a plate 34 having a cavity 35 therein and a flow throat 36 that is in flow communication with the recess 28. A mounting or spacer block 37 is suitably joined to this as-' sembly and the whole is secured to the base of the fastener clinching head in association with a foot plate 38 carrying clinching tool 17.

Overlying this assembly is a cover plate 39 secured thereto by screws 41 which join the parts into an integral whole. This plate 39 has two series of apertures 42, 43 therein which constitute inlets to the cavities 27 and 35 respectively. When the vacuum pump 32 is operating, air is drawn in through the apertures 42, 43.

The plate 39 also has an opening 44 through which the clinching tool 17 of the set of attaching tools projects. When a support sheet 12 is placed over the plate 39 and the pump is operating, the suction generated at the apertures 42, 43 tends to hold the sheet firmly in place. An adjustable stop bar 45 serves to limit the distance the sheet may be thrust over the plate hence it is possible to locate a desired area of the sheet directly over the clinching tool 17 with respect to the edge of the sheet.

The safety bar assembly is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. As illustrated, this is comprised of a shaft 46 journalled for free rotation in laterally spaced bearings 47 extending upwardly from the base frame top surface at the rear of the attaching heads. The shaft preferably carries collars 48 to restrain it from shifting in an axial direction. Each end of said shaft, extending beyond bearings 47, mounts firmly an arm 49 that extends in a forward direction. These arms are rigidly connected together by a shield bar 51 that bridges the front of the machine and overlies the guage surface plate assemblies 16. Said shield bar 51 normally is held elevated above said assemblies 16 by means of tension springs 52, one attached to each rear end of each arm 49 and anchored to the base frame as by means of eye bolts 53.

Mounted on the base frame 11, one below each arm 49, is a limit switch 54 having an on button 54a on its top surface and an off button 54b on its bottom surface. Each arm 49 carries an adjustable screw 55 which is adapted to strike and depress the on buttons 54a when the safety bar is in a lowered position. The arms 49 also each carry a strap 56 that extends downwardly therefrom beyond the bottom of the respective limit switch 54 and has an inturned foot portion 56a that engages with and depresses the off button when the safety bar is in its elevated position.

Also connected to the safety bar is a solenoid 57 carried on one side of the base frame which is operably connected to one arm 49 (right arm in FIG. 1) by means of an adjustable turn buckle 58. Adjustment of the connection is preferable to allow the solenoid to seat and prevent buzzing.

The operation of the safety bar assembly just described is substantially as follows:

With the master switch 25 on to supply current to the various components, the operator, after having placed a support sheet on the guage surface plate assemblies 16 or either of them, actuates a foot switch 59 (FIG. 1). This energizes the solenoid 57 which actuates to pull the safety bar downwardly. If there is no obstruction present the shield bar 51 will contact the support sheet and in so doing will depress the on buttons 54a of both limit switches 54. Closing these switches will energize a solenoid 61 that functions to actuate the trip clutch 23 and cause the attaching heads to make one cycle of operation, thus attaching snap fastener components to the support sheet. When foot switch 59 is opened springs 52 return the safety bar to its raised position during which movement the off buttons 54b of the limit switches 54 are depressed to cut off the electric current to the solenoid. Thus the operating heads become idle when one cycle of operation is completed.

Should there be an obstruction lying in the path of the downwardly moving shield bar 51 at the initiation of a cycle of operation, as for example, should the operator have a hand therebeneath, thelimit switches will not be operated to supply electric current to the solenoid 61. When such obstacle is removed, the shield bar will complete its decent and the machine will then cycle.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as details of the structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

1. In a fastener attaching machine of a type including a head having a reciprocable ram, operating means for said ram including an electric motor, a normally disengaged clutch connecting said motor with the ram, a solenoid to actuate said clutch, an electric circuit for said solenoid, a normally open switch in said circuit, a movable safety bar on said machine, and means to move the safety bar into engagement with the switch when there is no obstruction in the path of said safety bar for closing the circuit to energize the solenoid and actuate the ram.

2. The machine recited in claim 1, in which there are two rams and there are two switches connected in series in said circuit both operable by the safety bar.

3. The fastener attaching machine recited in claim 1, in which the safety bar comprises a U-shaped frame pivoted to the machine.

4. The fastener attaching machine recited in claim 1, in which solenoid means is provided to move said safety bar into switch closing position.

5. The fastener attaching machine recited in claim 1, in which spring means is provided to move the safety bar into switch open position.

6. In a fastener attaching machine of a type including a head having a reciprocable ram, operating means for said ram including an electric motor, a normally disengaged clutch connecting said motor With the ram, a first solenoid to actuate the clutch, an electric circuit for said solenoid, a first normally open switch in said first circuit, a second electric circuit, a second normally open switch in said second circuit, a second solenoid in said second circuit, a safety bar on said machine movable in the absence of an obstruction in its path from a first position to a second position by said second solenoid when said second switch is closed to close said first switch to energize said first solenoid to engage the clutch and actuate the ram.

7. The machine recited in claim 6, in which spring means is provided to return the safety bar to its first position and the safety bar opens the second switch when it returns to its first position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner 

